Interactions Between a Parasitic Wasp and its Insect Host: A Molecular Study of Wasp Virus, Parasite Protein and Host Hemocytes

小行星9514583 当寄生蜂Diachasmimorpha longicaudata的雌性在加勒比果蝇Anastrepha suspension（宿主）的幼虫中产卵时，它们也将病毒引入宿主的血液中。此外，一种新的蛋白质出现在寄生后2天内的寄生幼虫的血液中，但没有从未寄生的个人。PI已经表明，在病毒开始感染新的宿主细胞的同时，这种蛋白质在宿主血液中的水平增加。此外，受感染的宿主细胞会像未被寄生的果蝇细胞那样聚集起来，不能形成保护性的防御胶囊。因此，寄生虫卵和幼虫逃脱宿主的包囊，寄生虫以果蝇为代价发育。因此，该寄生虫是一种优良的生物防治剂。 PI建议确定蛋白质是否是病毒的基因产物，以及它是否增强病毒的感染性。PI还将确定蛋白质和病毒对宿主细胞通讯和防御系统的影响。 由于加勒比果蝇及其近亲如地中海果蝇是柑橘和其他农作物的主要害虫，PI的基础研究将为蛋白质和/或病毒作为果蝇发育中断和控制工具的潜力提供重要见解。此外，PI的发现将揭示膜碳水化合物（糖）是否在细胞识别和防御中很重要。这些发现也将有助于确定可能的因素（糖），增强和/或抑制细胞聚集（肿瘤形成）。 ***

9514583 Lawrence When females of the parasitic wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata lay their eggs in larvae of the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspense (host) they also introduce a virus into the blood of the host. In addition, a new protein appears in the blood of the parasitized larvae within 2 days after parasitization but is absent from unparasitized individuals. The PI has shown that the level of this protein increases in the host's blood at the same time as the virus begins to infect new host cells. In addition, infected host cells round up and do not form protective defense capsules as do cells from unparasitized fruit flies. Consequently, the parasite eggs and larvae escape encapsulation by the host and the parasite develops at the expense of the fruit fly. Thus, this parasite is an excellent biological control agent. The PI proposes to determine whether the protein is a gene product of the virus and whether it enhances virus infectivity. The PI will also identify the effects of both protein and virus on the cellular communication and defense system of the host. Since the Caribbean fruit fly and its close relatives like the Mediterranean fruit fly are major pests of citrus and other agricultural crops, the PI's basic studies will provide significant insights into the potential of protein and/or virus as tools in fruit fly developmental disruption and control. Additionally, the PI's findings will shed light on whether membrane carbohydrates (sugars) are important in cell-cell recognition and defense. The findings will also help to identify possible factors (sugars) that enhance and/or suppress cell aggregation (tumor formation). ***